This spring students from Nakasuk School participated in a Speed Skating Competition with other schools in the community. The Nakasuk School Speed Skating Team was very successful!

On 24-04-2014, John Maurice, Iqaluit District Education Authority Member and President, Iqaluit Speed Skating Association, presented our students with their individual medals and certificates.They were very pleased with the recognition and we were very proud of their accomplishments.

Nakasuk School, Iqaluit, has developed a strong relationship with Nunavut Arctic College. Consequently, we regularly host students and staff from the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP). We believe that by providing support for these aspiring teachers we are able to play a part in enhancing educational expertise in Nunavut. It is a role we readily accept and are committed to continuing.

Today, we welcomed Year 4 Nunavut Teacher Education Program students. The NTEP Interns are in the process of completing a course that addresses individual student needs and challenges. They wanted to familiarize themselves with Individual Student Support Plans (ISSP's) and practical approaches for achieving positive results. The NTEP Interns met with our Student Support Teachers Cathy Welsh and Susan Tigullaraq to learn about their approaches to addressing student needs. During the information session, Cathy and Susan discussed the importance and the process of creating support plans such as: Individual Education Plans (IEP's); Individual Adapted Plans (IAP's); and Individual Behaviour Plans (IBP'S). Additionally, they shared their strategies for achieving those goals.

We thank Cathy and Susan for sharing their knowledge and views in this area. Also, we appreciate the always genuine interest shown by the NTEP students who visit our school. We look forward to working with NTEP and Nunavut Arctic College in future endeavours.

This week, parents and guardians were invited to celebrate the completion of special stories authored by their children. These Grade 2 students recently completed studies on Animal Life Cycles and Weather and wrote about their learning using the Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy Through Art strategy. This strategy is a dynamic art and literature-based approach to writing that consists of a progression of art, literature and writing mini lessons that use descriptive and figurative language through the use of simple crayon resist, art experiences and quality picture books. The intent is to promote literacy through a direct and hands on approach.

This story process does much to enhance our curriculum and Literacy initiatives. Consequently, it promotes the pursuit of a positive reading environment in the school and the home.

Grade 2 Teacher, Nadine O'Dell is to be commended for her efforts to make this a meaningful and educational experience for our students and their families.

Nakasuk School, Iqaluit, presents a Fine Arts program designed to enrich all aspects of the curriculum. Students need exposure to many avocations and especially those that may provide them with the opportunity to pursue other interests in their future endeavours.

Last week the Iqaluit Music Society arranged for a series of Music Workshops to be presented to Nakasuk School students. We welcomed a special musical guest. Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff, Choral Conductor, from the University of Toronto. Lori was accompanied by one assistant, Jackie Hawley, an Artistic Director for a children's choir in Ottawa.

During the week Dr. Lori -Anne Dolloff held workshops with Choirs from Nakasuk, Joamie, Aqsarniit, and Inuksuk Schools. This culminated in a Community Concert Performance held on 04-05-2014 at Inuksuk High School under the sponsorship of the Iqaluit Music Society and Darlene Nuqingaq.

We thank Lori-Anne for her efforts on behalf of our student singers. We especially thank Darlene for her efforts in organizing these lessons. Her continued leadership is valued by the schools and community of Iqaluit. As well, we commend and congratulate the Nakasuk School Choir and their Directors, Marlene Letkeman and Amanda Kerton, on an exceptionally fine performance! Well done!

The staff at Nakasuk School, Iqaluit, held a surprise Baby Shower for Nadine O'Dell on Friday, April 4th. Nadine is a Grade 2 Teacher and is shortly due to give birth. We commend her for her commitment and efforts as she is approaching the birth of her baby daughter. Therefore, we, as a staff, took this opportunity to show our appreciation for her efforts through a surprise baby shower.

She received such items as: a congratulatory cake; a special cake made of diapers; baby clothes; bibs; etc. We wish to share with you pictures from the after school activity.

In addition to this event, we recognized retiree Barbara Butt (Student Support Assistant). After 6 years, Barb has concluded her service to the students at Nakasuk School, Iqaluit. We, as staff and colleagues, recognized this event by presenting Barb with a beautiful carving of a dancing bear and silver earnings designed by Mathew Nuqingaq.

We thank Barb for her years of service to the children at Nakasuk School. We wish her well as she prepares for her move back home to Newfoundland.

Three staff members from Nakasuk School, Iqaluit, have been presented by the Government of Nunavut with Service Awards. We congratulate Christa Kunuk (School Community Counselor); Randy Kennedy (School Custodian); and Cathy Welsh (Student Support Teacher) for this recognition. They are valuable members of the Nakasuk School Community and their efforts on behalf of our students and service to Nunavut are greatly appreciated.

Sandra Herbst, CEO of connect2learning, is a recognized system leader, author, coach, and consultant with almost twenty years of experience in education.

Sandra visited Iqaluit to facilitate a workshop entitled "Transforming Learning through Effective Engagement, Assessment, and Leadership." The workshop was attended by principals, consultants, superintendents, directors and other educational personnel from the Nunavut Department of Education. The three day session focused on quality assessment and engagement practices used to propel students, teachers and schools toward their desired goals. We thank Sandra for presenting an informative and interesting workshop.

Additionally, Sandra visited Nakasuk School during her busy schedule. It was a pleasure to provide this dynamic educator with a tour of our school and share with her the great work, accomplishments and successes of our students, teachers and members of the Nakasuk School Community.

Photo #1 was taken at Nakasuk School. Leeveena Nuyalia (Vice Principal); Sandra Herbst (Facilitator); and Tracey MacMillan (Principal) are holding some of the books that Sandra has co-authored on the topic of assessment.

At Nakasuk School we do like Green Eggs and Ham and we really like reading Sam I Am! Do we? Do we? Yes, we do! We do like it and so would you!

This week, guardians and siblings were invited to read, play games, sing songs, and enjoy snacks, such as green eggs and ham, and a special Dr. Seuss cake with their children. These Grade 1 students recently completed a special Literacy Study on Dr. Seuss books. Family were invited for a special celebration to recognize the completion of this unit of study. The Dr. Seuss Family Fun Night did much to enhance our curriculum and Literacy initiatives and so promote the pursuit of a positive reading environment.

Marlene Letkeman (Teacher / Dr. Seuss Unit Programming) and Rachel Squire (Teacher) are to be commended for their efforts to make this a meaningful and educational experience for our students and their family.

We wish to share with you photos from last evenings festivities!

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This is a blog for Nakasuk School. Updates on what is happening in the school will be posted here for everyone to see.